TOPEKA (KSNT) — Ariel Jones is a mother of two who has experienced a lot within the last year. She is now in a stable place in her life, but says the one thing that would make this holiday season special is to put up a Christmas tree in her home for her children.

“A lot of people cannot afford Christmas trees and this gives all of the families’ opportunities to have a Christmas tree,” said Ariel Jones.

For the 6th year in a row Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home partnered with united way and the Christmas tree bureau to donate 850 Christmas trees to families in need this holiday season.

“The community has responded really well especially when we began partnering with the Christmas bureau to allow people to register a little bit easier and more fluently,” said Richard Rausch, Director of Operations, Penwell-Gabel.

More than 20 volunteers were on hand to help secure trees to vehicles for the ride home.

The most rewarding part of this tree giveaway for these volunteers were to see the sparkles in the eyes and a huge smile on children’s faces.

“The most enjoyable moment we receive on this is the expressions on children’s faces when they come through and hearing them say oh now we can decorate… Its just a really warming feeling,” said Rausch.

But for Ariel this Christmas is more than about receiving a free tree…

“The tree doesn’t make the Christmas. It’s actually being thankful for being with family and even if we don’t have family it’s just remembering that Christmas is about the gifts that god above has given us and no the gifts that we can buy,” said Jones.